Oton-Sapele community under military siege over the killing of soldier, police

By Akpos Oghenetega,

Otonyasere community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State has come under severe military siege  and currently deserted following the attack on a military post yesterday by gunmen killing a soldier and a policeman.

 

Advocate.ng gathered that officers and Men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, has invaded Otonyasere community in Sapele since sunday night allegedly in search of guns reportedly carted away by unidentified gunmen, who killed a policeman and a soldier last night.

 

Advocate.ng reliably gathered that the community has been coded off by men of JTF and resident were not allowed to go out of the community today, even school children were not allowed to school today as many remind indoors for fear of been arrested or beaten.

 

A community source who spoke to one of our correspondent told Advocate that on Monday, men of the 19th battalion, Koko, Delta State, who carried out the joint operation invaded the community in search of the guns said to have been carted away by the gunmen during the shootout.

 

According to source who pleaded for anonymity said, “we have all vacated our houses and as I speak to you we are in the bush and soldiers have completely taken over our homes.

 

“The soldiers including police are going from gate to gate picking up young men, and as I speak to you, the vigilantes have been invited too by the security men, community folks, young and old, have fled into the forest for safety.”

 

One of the community leader who gave his as Ajami Akpome who spoke to us from his hideout said that they have not been able to access their home since last night, “we can’t go into the community and you can’t come out, some of us who came to town has not been able to see their family, we are under siege” he cried out.

Meanwhile more facts have continue to emerge about last night, a military source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the gunmen attacked the community at about 6pm “you know that place is surrounded by creeks, so they came through the Oton creek, as if they were fishermen or timber men, normally that creek was always use to ferry in wood, and other things and there was only one soldier at the checkpoint and before he knew what was happening, they opened fire on him and the other policeman who was inside the hut, dashed out when he heard the sound of gun shots, was shot too.”

The source added that the gunmen also carted away their weapons when the soldiers who were guarding an hotel nearby and were attracted by the gunshots, came firing at them and they escaped through the creek.

 

The source stated further that when military men went after the gunmen, the boat used for the operation was found abandoned in the creek, with the weapons missing. “I think that might have fueled the believe that the gunmen might be around the community with the weapons,” he added.